The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-22
But Four Minutes to Live.

1Ailan. Madden, to proceed tOScran-
Ion and work up the case. We soon
found that the money was heing fioat-
"a by a gang of six or seven, of
WHOM the majority were as tough
I 1lses as Abe Buzzard, of modern
Ianie. We struck two leads ut the
same time. and while mine led to
Harrisburg, his led into the noun
'ainous country around Pottsville,
which ut that time contained some
n the most laWless miners who ever
handled pick. At Harrisburg /
nneaThed an old bird known as
So, ~ sas.lgEk Charley" and landed
n An temporarily behind the bars. In
fkee or four days was satisfied that
lte was the only one of the lot in that
ieghborhood, and l set out to find
Madden from whom l had not yet
herd Il word.
Lne: him in Reading, and he also
baa as a prisoner "a man known as
"SilJim," but whose real name was
Isaat Watson. He had been brought
ompottsville, and he WAS the head
and font of the "ShOvers." M
soonerhad Madden located Jim, who
was thtOsiensibIe owner Of a saloon
in town than the frIlow slipped out
anu maze his way UP the mountains
and ttokquarter. ina cabin occupied
by anagd woman-a widow, Mad
den hung Ia the sceut until he relm.a-
ted his game. and at about 4 o'clork
in the afternoon, he drew near the
mouse. Forty rods away he was met
by the old woman. who stated that
Jim was in the house and willing tn
surrender. Madden should have
stopped to reflect that some sort II
trap was being laid for him. Ii Jim
was willing to surrender why hadn't
he come out and shown himself?
What need Of a go.between between
him anil the officer?
The detective thought of nothing
but soaring his man at once, aud he
pushed on without even drawing hi
revolver. The outer door was partly
open, and rs he entered the house i,
vas shut behind him and he war
wvered bya revolver in the hand
q .he c0unterfriter. Sly Jim had
E.EN five years for a previous
oifense. He reasoned that the otti
rers had him dead to rights on the
new case and that he would probably
be "settled" for ten or Fl teen years.
This prospect ha made him desper-
ate, and determined ON a desperate
thing.
"Sit down over there" he com.
mandei. and the helpless officer
0beyed.
Now, then." continued Jim.
"what do you want Of me?"
"To arrest you for uttering coun-
terfeit money"
Got any proofs ?"
"Plenty."
swell, that settles 1t. I'd rather
die than 60 back to prison, but you
shall die with me. could Kill you
and skip, but I'd be run down and
hung. Well go together !"
On a table in the room was a fifty
pound key of powder, and leading
into it was "A f0ur-minute fuse. Jim
walked across to the table, covered
the officer anew, and lighted the end
of the fuse with the remark:
"In four minutes we'll be in h-Il !
If you make move from that chair
m haye 10 send you on ahead
little sooner w
II think III wait and go with
yon." coolly replied Madden, "and
If you've no objections l'lI take Out
my watch and call time"
THAT will he a good idea" said
,yLss, ard out came the watch aud the
called out
TEN seconds. Fifteen! Twenty!
Thirty !" and so on.
"Nohotiy will never know what
happened t., u.s." remarked Jun rs
the first minute WAS nearly gone.
"But tFey'll mix up the scraps and
probably bury n portion of me along
with you. That's ibe only thing |
care ab0ut.o
"Well, l was always fond Of good
retorted Jim.
When two minutes had passed the
detective began to softly whistle to
himself.
ut will come mighty sudden when
it comes" observed Jim rs he crossed
hisaegs.
"Yes, we won't know what hurt
u.s."
whats the time now :7'
"Oh, we've got over a minute yet"
"Don't you wish you hadn't
come? ?"
mo. sir! I was bound to have you
~ IL 4 A..